More bad news for Trump: His poll numbers just hit a bunch of new lows

The Washington Post's Philip Rucker explains how and why FBI director James Comey was fired, as well as how the FBI's investigation of the Trump campaign's possible connections with Russia may be impacted. (Whitney Shefte/The Washington Post)

President Trump is dealing with a budding scandal after firing FBI Director James B. Comey on Tuesday.

But even before that, he appears to have hit a new low with the American people.

The only other poll to show his disapproval that high since his inauguration was Gallup, which briefly showed his disapproval rating ticking up to 59 percent in March before it dropped to 52 percent a week later. Quinnipiac's polls have been among the worst for Trump, but it's also one of the most frequent, and the trends are looking bad for Trump.

The Quinnipiac poll also shows the president's favorable rating — more of a personal measure than a job measure — dropping to a new low of 35 percent. The percentage of Americans who strongly approve of him is tied for an all-time low at 25 percent. And the percentage who strongly disapprove has reached an all-time high of 51 percent.

Being levelheaded: Voters say 66-29 percent that he's not (unlike the other numbers here, this is tied for all-time worst, not setting a new one)

Being intelligent: Voters say 56-41 percent that he is

Sharing your values: Voters say 64-32 percent that he doesn't

How he has treated the news media: Voters disapprove 65-31 percent

Whether people trust him or the media more for the truth: 57 percent media, 31 percent Trump (even 17 percent of Republicans pick the media over their president)

Republican and Democratic Senators weigh in from Capitol Hill on President Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey on May 9. (Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post)

Interestingly, the reason the numbers have ticked down appears to be the group that elected Trump in the first place: white, working-class voters. Whites without college degrees approved of Trump 57 percent to 38 percent in the mid-April Q poll and 51-39 percent in late March/early April; today they are split, with 47 percent approving and 46 percent disapproving.

Republicans still haven't deserted him, which means it might take some doing before his approval rating drops much lower. But there certainly seem to be some slight cracks in Trump's base. And you have to wonder whether the Comey decision — which even congressional Republicans are criticizing — might pry those cracks open just a bit wider.

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The scene in Washington after FBI Director Comey was fired

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President Trump’s firing of James B. Comey consumed Capitol Hill’s attention. Democrats slowed committee business in the Senate to protest the lack of an independent investigation into Russia’s election meddling, and Republicans saw rifts emerge as more questioned the president’s decision.

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President Trump’s firing of James B. Comey consumed Capitol Hill’s attention. Democrats slowed committee business in the Senate to protest the lack of an independent investigation into Russia’s election meddling, and Republicans saw rifts emerge as more questioned the president’s decision.

May 9, 2017White House press secretary Sean Spicer speaks to reporters outside the West Wing after President Trump dismissed James B. Comey from his position as FBI director.Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post